Alex Astley

Alex Astley earned a bachelor's degree from the University of Wisconsin, Platteville in 2014. His career experience includes working as an engineering manager.[1]

Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

I am a Professional Engineer in Holyoke, Colorado. Since earning my Bachelor’s of Science in Electrical Engineering at the University of Wisconsin Platteville, I’ve spent my career working at not-for-profit electric cooperatives. The goal of my work has been to provide reliable and affordable electricity to improve life for folks who would rather take care of their family, friends, and community than get involved in what is going on in Denver.

In my personal time, I enjoy riding motorcycles and bicycles, target shooting, hiking our mountains, and playing with my dog. My frontier spirit has helped me thrive in the eastern plains, but increased doubt in election integrity and government attacks on individual liberty have called me to step out from where I’m familiar to where I’m needed.

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

1. Trust must be earned again for our elections – They should be simple for voters and thorough for administrators. Mailing ballots to all voters for them to research and complete at home has been excellent, but they should be turned in by each voter with positive verification of who we are. People have a right to privacy but governments do not. The election process should be publicly documented and independently audited every step of the way.2. State records should not be a maze – There are tens of thousands of pages of government regulations, and even more rulemaking commentary, historic copies, and notes. The public record has become a rats nest of messy and contradictory rules. AI models should be trained on all statues, regulations, and notes so that the public can ask questions and be guided to relevant information. No AI should ever interpret the law, simply present it in the light as it is written.3. Business regulation should not be punitive – While disputing unjustified fines charged by the Secretary of State’s office, one of my close business-owning friends has been threatened with lawsuits and the continued accrual of fines before being offered a reduced settlement without admission of any wrongdoing by the state’s office. Minor disagreements and errors should never default to fines, and the culture in this office needs to be made into one of civic assistance instead of revenue collection.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

I’m an avid supporter of the Bill of Rights, especially the first, second, fourth, and fifth amendments.

I am a follower of Christ Jesus who is trying to live out the things that I’ve learned from scripture. I believe every person should be free to praise any god they wish, and speak their mind without rebuke from government or powerful institutions.

All people should be free to protect themselves and their families by any means necessary. A right delayed is a right denied. No stalking victim should be left defenseless by a 72 hour waiting period or a permit they can’t get without taking days off work.

Everyone should be free to go about their lives without government questioning, searches, or surveillance. This includes flock cameras.

What characteristics or principles are most important for an elected official?

Unwavering honesty and integrity are key to any official’s reputation. Who they are should not change based on who they’re speaking to. If you cannot trust someone’s character, then you cannot trust their words or their work.

What legacy would you like to leave?

"I consider my life worth nothing to me; my only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me."

What was your very first job? How long did you have it?

My first ever job was delivering newspapers with my mother and brothers in the small Ohio city we lived in. My first "adult" job was my role as an electric utility engineer when I was fresh out of college. I only stepped out of that role when I was promoted into my current role as the manager for our dedicated engineering team.

What responsibilities of this office do you personally consider the most important?

The most important responsibility for Colorado’s next Secretary of State is to build voter trust in our elections. Perception is almost as important as reality, and the fact that so many people have any doubt at all is an indication of a system that is not up to the task. This goal could make or break the relationship between the people and their elected officials for a generation.